Biomass production and nutritional composition of Moringa oleifera under different cutting frequencies and planting spacings

Abstract

Moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) is a multipurpose plant with high nutritional composition and can be re-shaped in tree, hedge, fence etc. due to its high re-growth capability and being grown as multi-cut forage. This study investigated the effect of different planting spacing and cutting frequencies on biomass production and nutritional quality of moringa. Seeds of moringa were sown on beds at plant spacing of 15 cm × 30 cm (narrow) and 15 × 60 cm (broad). The cutting frequencies for fresh biomass were (i) 15 d (ii) 20 d and (iii) 30 d. Fresh matter yield in 1st and 2nd year was recorded as 6.40 and 7.57 t ha-1, respectively when moringa crop was planted at narrow plant spacing with 30 d cutting interval followed by cutting interval of 15 and 20 d at the same planting spacing in year 1 and 2, respectively. However, the growth rate was highest when moringa plants were harvested at 15 d cutting interval. A significant variation in mineral composition of moringa leaves was also observed during this research. Nitrogen (6.11%), potassium (9.14%) and ascorbate (89.73 μg g-1) were recorded when moringa crop was harvested at 30 d cutting interval at broad spacing, while phosphorous (3.40%) was recorded at 20 d cutting interval, whilst maximum calcium content (2.53%) were recorded when the crop was harvested at 30 d interval at narrow planting spacing. In conclusion, for maximum biomass production with better nutritional composition, moringa should be established as fodder purpose at narrow spacing (15 cm × 30 cm) with optimum cutting interval time of 30 days.